Midfield general Javier Mascherano was under no illusions when he said: “It’s clear the team need to react, and it’s not their attitude -- there’s plenty of that -- but in terms of their game.”

Unable to compensate for Messi’s absence despite a pool of players with big reputations in European club football, Argentina were jeered and whistled by their fans after Tuesday’s humiliating 1-0 home defeat by Paraguay in Cordoba.

It is the first time Argentina have lost two home matches in a qualifying campaign, having also started on the wrong foot with a 2-0 defeat by Ecuador in Buenos Aires a year ago.

“We lost (on Tuesday) because the team never found answers in either of the two matches,” said Mascherano, referring to both the Paraguay defeat and last week’s 2-2 draw with Peru in Lima.

“The (poor) football ends up affecting your state of mind. I’m very worried.”

Argentina face a tough double-header next month, playing away to a fast-improving Brazil, who lead the group after a run of four wins, before hosting Colombia. And they will need their talisman if they are to stop the rot.

Argentina have picked up more points in the three qualifiers that Messi played -- all wins -- than in the other seven.

They have 16 points, five behind Brazil, four adrift of Uruguay and one short of Ecuador and Colombia with eight matches to go.

‘Uncomfortable Aguero’

Aguero missed a penalty for Argentina.
(AP)

Paraguay are one point behind and Chile two, in a tight group of seven teams vying for the four qualifying places for the Russia finals and the fifth-place play-off berth currently occupied by Argentina.

Sergio Aguero, in good form for Manchester City, embodies Argentina’s malaise, missing a penalty that would have levelled the score and apparently uncomfortable in a withdrawn attacking role behind Gonzalo Higuain.

However, coach Edgardo Bauza, who inherited the team from Gerardo Martino and started out with a 1-0 home win over Uruguay in Messi’s last qualifier on September 1, said he had faith in his players.

“This squad has shown me they have a lot of desire. We must keep working within the squad we have (and) see which players are in the best shape,” Bauza said.